Set in Stone: We're Engaged!

It is official. The ManBoy (who henceforth will be referred to as One-Day-Hubs ("ODH") proposed at 6:28PM on Friday, December 18, 2009 in the middle of Grand Central Terminal in New York City.... and I (of course) said yes!

Behind the Scenes:
While spending Thanksgiving Weekend in NJ with my family, ODH took the opportunity to speak with my father and ask for his blessing in asking me to marry him. The two of them spoke briefly while waiting for the start of "The Blind Side" at the Preakness Movie Theater in Wayne, NJ. (Looks like the conversation went over pretty well). From that day on, they were all in Top Secret Planning Mode. With the help of my sister-in-law’s parents (they’re in the jewelry business), ODH was able to carefully (and secretly) select the perfect ring (and let me just say, he did a darn good job! It is gorgeous! See above!)

Setting the Stage:
On Friday, ODH and I were scheduled to meet with the events coordinator at Cipriani 42nd St. to see the space as a possible reception venue at 7:00PM. He asked me to meet him in Grand Central near the clock at 6:15. Knowing that Friday is a dress-down day at my office, ODH suggested I dress up for our meeting, so that we wouldn't look out of place at Cipriani. Suspiciously, I agreed.

At 6:12PM (yes, for the first time in my life I was early), I walked into the terminal. As I headed for the clock, I looked at the grand and beautiful setting around me, thinking to myself, how romantic and truly "so New York" this landmark is. To my right, was a Tiffany's advertisement of a diamond ring. Immediately my thoughts ran to how perfectly romantic this setting would be for an engagement. Almost as soon as the thought entered my mind though, I had to push it out, as I'd been told several times not to expect any kind of official proposal before the New Year.

The Proposal:
After waiting impatiently for over 10 minutes and texting and calling ODH twice, my phone rang.... ODH: "Where are you" Me: "By the clock, where are you" ODH: "I'm by the clock, I don't see you" Me: "Ok, stay where you are, I see you".
Amidst the rush hour madness, I found him waiting for me. I suggested we grab a cup of coffee before heading over to the venue and then proceeded to ask for a piece of gum. ODH (chewing gum): "I don't have any gum."

All of a sudden, between searching for that piece of gum and being easily distracted by the hustle and bustle of the crowd around me, I saw the flash of a red box in his hand as he knelt to the ground on one knee. I was beside myself, it all seemed to happen so quickly, and yet I have the clearest image in my mind of the moment. ODH: "Jaclyn McLean, will you marry me.... (long pause) please?" Of course, I said yes and then asked if I got to keep the beautiful ring in front of me.

It truly felt like something out of a movie (in fact, we're pretty sure it is in a movie somewhere). The people around us stopped to watch, applaud, and congratulate us as we began the round of phone calls to announce the good news.

We've been celebrating ever since. I must admit, I'm still amazed when I look down at my hand and remember that this is real. It's a dream come true for both of us, we couldn't be happier.

The months ahead will be filled with fun and planning and great joy and we are so thrilled to be sharing it all with loving family and friends.

Over the holidays, we'll be spending time up in Boston with his family and out in Colorado with mine, and we'll be soaking up every minute of it. What a way to ring in 2010 (pun intended)!

Amidst the excitement of the evening's events, and fielding all of the beautiful messages of congratulations we received, we also had the opportunity to spend some quiet time with each other and with God. We took the time to thank Him for bringing us to this place in our lives as individuals, and for bringing us to each other. We are blessed to see the work that He is doing in us, and pray that He continues to put His hand on this relationship as we seek to place Him at the very center of our marriage.



So to all of you, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy New Year and God Bless!

The Reason for this (and every) Season

The message and meaning of this post radically changed in the last few minutes: Primarily intended to serve as a reminder to listen closely to the moving lyrics of this season’s timeless classic carols, I now endeavor to impress upon you how far we’ve strayed from the heart of Christmas, and perhaps convince some of you to focus your attention more clearly on the Lord this year.

Today, as I often do before settling in to write in this very public cyber journal, I “Google Imaged” the word “Christmas” to find a suitable picture to place at the top of this post. Saddened, though not terribly surprised, the search results yielded nearly nothing that had to do with the true meaning of this holiday – the Birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I found sparkly trees and ornaments, packages and bells, and plenty of women scantily clad in outfits which vaguely resemble a “Santa costume”. But Jesus, as He so often is, was few and far between amidst these earthly images. It wasn’t until I searched the term “Christian Christmas” (which is by far the most redundant phrase I’ve ever seen), that I was able to find something truly fitting.

For a few weeks now, I’ve made it the commitment of my heart to be conscious of the words and images that I allow to seep into my head. The Enemy throws so much at us these days that it is often impossible to see past the lies and the clutter to the Truth – especially this time of year.

We all fall prey to it in one way or another, and I’ll be perfectly honest, I love visiting the tree at Rockefeller Center and wrapping gifts with holiday tunes playing in the background. But this year, I feel so much more blessed than in years past. Notwithstanding the pleasant circumstances of my earthly life, the condition of my heart is what is driving this pure joy. I am blessed that the Lord has called me to focus my eyes on Him in everything I do this Christmas.

I often arrive at work with tear-stained cheeks from listening to music that glorifies His name, while on my morning commute. I awake with a song in my heart that speaks the Truth of this holiday. And each time a carol plays, I am urged to send up my prayers with the utmost thanks that I know the ultimate joy of having a relationship with and celebrating Christ.

We are so incredibly fortunate (and undeserving, I might add), to have been created by a Father who loves us enough to make the ultimate sacrifice, so that we may live with Him in a perfect eternity one day. Though earthly presents quickly lose their luster after the tree comes down and the ribbons thrown away, the heavenly gift of Emmanuel – God with us – is always shining as a beacon of truth. We should be thankful and humbled by His grace.

So this Christmas, I urge you to fix your eyes on Heaven with a grateful heart. Thank God for sending his son to this place to die so that we may know life. And maybe, just maybe, the joy that Christmas morning brings will stay with you each day throughout the year…

Merry Christmas and God Bless You All….

O come, O come, Emmanuel; And ransom captive Israel; That mourns in lonely exile here; Until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel, Shall come to thee, O Israel.

Give Thanks

In truth, I should have posted this on Wednesday or yesterday, but given the holiday, my attention, of course, was turned towards my family.

I hope you all had an incredible holiday….I know I did.

Thanksgiving at our house is usually a grand and bustling affair, and while this year was a good bit smaller, for one reason or another, it was no less wonderful. I was blessed with the opportunity to share a few words with my family before bowing our heads in prayer to give thanks and ask for the Lord to bless our gathering. Today, I’d like to share those words with you…

“I always say that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday – for several reasons, not the least of which is the incredible meal that we are about to eat, but even more importantly, it is my favorite because it is one of, if not the only holiday that has not become perverted by ‘stuff’. It is a day carved out for us to simply acknowledge and give thanks for the incredible blessings in our lives, without being clouded by the giving of ‘things’. In many ways, it serves as the model for how we are to live each day – thanking God for what He has given us. In that vein, I’d like to share with you an excerpt from my Proverbs 31 Ministries Daily Devotional:

"Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)

In my (part-time) job as a university teacher, I'm frequently reading research. I know … it sounds as dry as an over-cooked turkey. Sometimes it is but often I find interesting stuff in that scientific prose. For example, I read about a study that showed just how great it is to be grateful.

The researchers found that grateful people report higher levels of positive emotions, more satisfaction with life, and more vitality and optimism. All good qualities I want more of in my life. They also found grateful people show lower levels of depression and stress - two things I'd like to experience less in my life.

What's more, they found that people who write weekly in a journal about things they are thankful for are healthier. They exercise more regularly, report fewer physical symptoms, and feel better in general than people who journal about neutral or negative life events. That sounds great, and I'll take all the help I can get in the exercise department.

Finally, the research showed that people who daily count their blessings report higher levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, and energy. Wow, the benefits of being grateful are remarkable and many! I guess that shouldn't surprise me after considering today's key verse. The Bible urges us to give thanks … all the time … in every situation … because this practice is the will of God.

Let me be clear, there are terrible things that happen to us that may not be the will of God, but us praising God and giving thanks in spite of them certainly is the will of God.

As Christians, we can always find reason to give thanks – thanks for the salvation of Christ, the nearness of God, and the counsel of His Spirit for starters. The psalmist declared, "I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High" (Psalm 7:17, NIV). We can do that too.

Christian poet John Milton once wrote about every grey cloud having a silver lining. Purposing to give thanks, no matter the weather, will train us to look for it. Continuing in this manner day after day ensures that gratefulness will become a normal mode of operation.

No wonder those researchers found that people regularly counting their blessings grow happier, healthier, and more optimistic. After all, that research wasn't discovering anything new, but rather confirming the will and wisdom of God. God already knows how great it is for us to be grateful. Now "science" does too.

What can you give thanks for today?

Dear Lord, thank You for this day. Thank You for Your Son and Your Spirit, given to me. Thank You for the provision of shelter and food I have today. And Lord, thank You for this reminder to become more mindful of my blessings. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

So I hope each of you had an opportunity yesterday to truly reflect on the innumerable blessings in your life and lift up your thanks to the Maker. Enjoy the rest of the weekend, wherever you might be spending it, and try each day going forward, to remember those blessings and continue to be grateful….

God bless you all and Happy Thanksgiving!

A Louisville Sugger of a Weekend

Happy Friday All!

Another week has come to an end... and, true to form, the ManBoy and I are, once again, headed out of town...

This weekend we'll be down in Louisville, Kentucky with my brother and sister-in-law! So fun!

Given the distance, we rarely get to spend much time together apart from a holiday here or a family event there, so this weekend is a special treat for all 4 of us!

They’ll be giving us the grand tour of their fair city in the heart of the Bluegrass State which will include a trip to the Louisville Slugger Museum, and perhaps some Kentucky Bourbon (yuck)!

All in all, a wonderful way to spend a pre-Thanksgiving weekend!

Enjoy!

Just look around...

“Try and put your arms around the 100 year old tree

Climb up on a horse and let it run full speed

Take a look out at the world from 30,000 feet on your next flight

Watch a flock of birds against the morning sun

Close your eyes and listen to the river run

Catch a firefly in your hand or a raindrop on your tongue

That's right There is a God - How much proof do you need?

Plant a seed and see what comes out of the ground

Find the heartbeat on your baby's ultrasound

In a few years hear it laughing, and don't it sound like a song?

Stop and think about what you don't understand

Things like life and love and how the world began

Hear the doctor say he can't explain it, but the cancer is gone

There is a God - How much proof do you need?

Science says it's all just circumstance

Like this whole worlds just an accident

But if you want to shoot that theory down, look around

Just look around “

I recently made a promise to myself and to God, that the development of my faith and my walk with Him would be the central focus of my life.

I’ve taken to speaking my prayers aloud on my morning drive. I’ve chosen to pray instead of honking at people on the highway. And, I’ve taken refuge in the music of believers when I want to cry out in frustration.

I’ve been blessed with opportunities lately to share freely and unapologetically the Good News of Christ and I’ve endeavored to point to God in the way I live and love.

In light of this effort, today I’d like to share with you two songs that have spoken intimately to me…
Lee Ann Womack’s “There is a God” and Nichole Nordeman’s “I Am” – have a listen…

FAIL

All I can say is...

Complete and Utter Chicken Fail.

Between my oven not being powerful enough to cook it through and my accidentally cooking it upside down, I was brought to tears (we're talking full on sobs here) Wednesday night as my attempt at roasting a chicken (whom we now fondly refer to as Herbert) proved disastrous.

The night ended with 11:30PM pizza from down the block and of course the 27th World Championship Win from my boys in pinstripes....

A Chicken Dinner...with a penguin.

Happy November All!

My favorite season continues to roll along and the consumer culture-driven, unnecessarily pre-mature Holiday ads are starting to pop up on television (and in my Inbox – leave me alone, Abercrombie, I haven’t worn you since middle school!).

In keeping with that spirit, this week the ManBoy and I will be engaging in two seasonally appropriate activities: (1) Tonight, we will be attempting to roasting a chicken; and (2) Tomorrow, we will be attending a black tie event at the Waldorf (yay for party dresses and sparkly accessories!).

Now, not to toot my own horn here, but over the last year or so, I have become rather handy in the kitchen {Note: This fact came as a not-so-small surprise to my once college roommates, who recently shared with the ManBoy that I was the suitemate who repeatedly opted for take-out when faced with dinner decisions in our off-campus apartment…oops}.

The ManBoy, having been raised by a renowned published chef and a member of Les Dames d' Escoffier, was, needless to say, an intimidating guest to have at my table, in the early days of our relationship. Looking back, I credit my culinary development with the challenge that feeding him poses. Since then, I’ve certainly adopted a sense of adventurousness in the kitchen (not that roasting a chicken is, by any means, adventuresome, I’m just sayin…).

So, this evening, he and I will team up to try our hand at roasting a chicken (consider it the first step in what I fear will be a long and disappointing journey towards one day hosting Thanksgiving at my house and not screwing up the turkey). I’ll be sure to report back with details on our inevitable failure success.

In other news, with birds on the brain, I have been graced with the cordial invitation to attend the American Irish Historical Society Annual Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria tomorrow evening with the ManBoy. I’m looking forward to attending our first festive event of the season, penguin suit clad ManBoy in tow. {Ladies, let me tell you, the boy can rock a tux like James Bond himself…I kid you not…lucky lady I be! I’ll be trying to keep up with his devastating good looks in a strapless gold brocade Shoshanna dress – not too shabby}. Of course, ever the girly-girl, I cannot wait for our elegant evening out!

Pictures to come!

To-Boo or Not To-Boo: A Halloween Question

It’s that time of year again…

Sephora is packed to the gills with people buying neon eye shadow. Lingerie stores are selling out. And Ricky’s has a line around the block…

Not in these parts, though – we’re headed out of town.

Every year, the final days of October bring on the frantic scramble to make this year’s All Hallows’ Eve better than the last. And, I would venture to guess, that each year results in complete and utter failure {not unlike New Year’s Eve – but that is a rant for another day}.

I’ll admit, I’ve had my fair share of impressive hauntings – I donned a set of air soft guns, black boots, and a braid, and made a mean Lara Croft in college (see above). As a child, I was the Pillsbury Dough Boy; Madeline; and a Mermaid amongst other impressive get ups.

This year, however, I’ll be entering into a new (and boring) place (without a costume) – adulthood. The ManBoy, a staunch opponent to the holiday, has decreed this weekend a costumeless affair. {I know, right? Don’t even start}.

We’re headed down to DC to visit friends and family members and will be leaving the costumes behind. (OK – that’s not entirely true; I’m sneaking a few into my suitcase as options, just in case).

However, as we prepare for this weekend, I can’t help but ask myself (and the blogosphere, of course) at what age does it become inappropriate to actively participate in Halloween (in other ways than simply handing out candy to other peoples’ children – a strange and dangerous tradition when considered)?

Would love to hear your thoughts…

Just For Fun:
Heidi Klum apparently thinks there is no age limit….

Nevertheless, regardless of how you choose to enjoy this weekend – use this opportunity to stock up on plenty of goodies!

Perhaps I can convince the ManBoy to celebrate with me by watching a few old favorites…Practical Magic and Hocus Pocus to start - SJP circa 1993, you can' t go wrong (whatever, I’m a girl and not a huge fan of scary movies…lay off).





Happy Halloween!




BOO!

Proud to be an American Sports Fan…or Cute Boys in Short Shorts

We are a nation of sports fans. We cling to our allegiances tightly and wear our colors proudly. However, across these 50 United States, the same camaraderie that binds us sets us far apart from our foes. Yankees, Red Sox. Mets, Phillies. Jets, Patriots. Giants, Eagles. The list is endless.

Yet, despite our passionate love of sports, we rarely, aside from the Olympics, find an opportunity to unite our interests and cheer for our beloved Stars and Stripes. That opportunity is upon us.

The United States Men’s Soccer Team has, for those of us who have cared to notice, done us proud. As teams around the world vie for one of only 32 spots at the 2010 World Cup, to be held in South Africa next summer, our boys can book their tickets.

To be fair, I myself am not what some would consider a soccer aficionado. But (and girls you can back me up on this) the opportunity to watch eleven (or XI – to which, I recently learned, they are referred) cute boys in short shorts trot around a soccer pitch (aka field) is a welcome one. Besides, it scores brownie points with the ManBoy when you take an interest in his favorite sport. (I’ve recently taken to learning the names of the starting XI on the US Men’s team and he is very proud).

Aside from my ManBoy though, it is shocking how few soccer fans there are in this country. I mean, come on people! This is the sport that gave us David Beckham! {Sorry babe, you know he’s not my type}. But watching the game against Costa Rica last night, as these men represented us with their hard work and graceful talents, was inspiring. They are a team of relatively unknown stars, a united front determined to prove to their critics that the United States has what it takes to compete on the international stage. I can’t wait to see what they’ll achieve at next summer’s World Cup.

In the meantime, don’t take my word for it, (because Lord knows my analysis of the sport would be shameful) hop on over to the ManBoy’s blog for an educated and in-depth look at what’s taking place on the soccer pitch around the world. Enjoy!

A Year in Love

Today, the ManBoy and I celebrate our anniversary -

1 year ago we went on our first date...My life since, has not been the same. Because of him, I will remain forever changed . He is my answered prayer and the love of my life.

Happy Anniversary Babe!

10.9.08

Standing, On Principle

So, I have for you a story that needs addressing.

Last night, while at the Keith Urban / Sugarland Concert at Madison Square Garden, I found myself enraged and nearly kicked out of the venue by security. Though your thoughts may immediately run to your own familiar memories of engaging in inappropriate behavior at just such an event, let me clarify immediately, as it was quite the contrary.

As avid country music fans, my roommate and I have a tendency to grasp at the chance of attending country concerts every opportunity we have. So when Keith announced that he’d be playing the Garden with the incredibly talented Sugarland, we had to be there (and of course drag our boyfriends along as well).

From the start, the night looked promising. We were clad in ripped jeans, cowboy boots, plaid shirts, and oversized belt buckles – undoubtedly an unlikely sight for the average New Yorker. After a few drinks at Stout, we made our way to our Recession-Special 300-Level Seats at MSG. Sugarland had just started and we were ready to turn that place into an urban honky tonk.

Much to our dismay, those seated in the rows behind us had in mind a very different kind of night. As we stood there singing along with Jennifer Nettles, a voice from behind us (quite unlike the lovely Jennifer’s) beseeched us to…wait for it…SIT. DOWN.

I glanced around quickly, to be sure I was actually where I thought I was (you know, the arena at MSG – home of the NY Knicks, the NY Rangers, and hundreds upon hundreds of rock concerts) and then turned around to face those requesting such an absurd departure from normative behavior.

Certainly a few decades our senior, the individuals seated in the rows behind us looked…to put it lightly…displeased. Despite our best efforts to insist that, in fact, this is how people behave at concerts, (we even had visual aids – Exhibit A: The section to our left; Exhibit B: The section to our right; etc. etc.) we were approached by a “supervising” Security Guard, after having been referred to by these elders in terms unfit for this blog. (Hypocrisy = using aggressive profanity towards an individual while simultaneously referring to the well-being of the children in the section as your reason for complaining...hmmm).

Now, you must understand that I am not one to challenge authority purely for the sake of rebellion – nor is the ManBoy, I might add. But, hypocrisy and discrimination towards innocent, undeserving 20-somethings, I simply will not stand for. (I did try to make a “standing” pun here, but failed miserably…suggestions welcome).

Long story short – we lost the battle but won the war. Russ, the “Supervisor” (who will be named in the angry letter we will be writing) sided with the old folks and told us that if we stood up one more time, we would be kicked out of the concert. Yes, KICKED. OUT. Consider the parallel universe entered. (I might add here that nothing was done to address the man who so offensively addressed my roommate).

At the end of the day though, despite the Sugarland portion of the concert being nearly ruined, as soon as Keith hit the stage, the whole arena was on their feet (shocker). The whole arena, that is, except for Ms. Grumpy Gills who filed the initial complaint. We did catch her dancing and enjoying herself a few times, at which point she would immediately sit down and give us a dirty look. (And they say we’re immature).

The concert, all in all, was out-standing (See, tried it again). Keith and Sugarland are both incredibly talented, and we were there to witness the greatness, along with the rest of the New York City country-lovin-rednecks who keep them comin’ back to our fair city. Yeehaw!

Taking the Stage

I remember that feeling like it was yesterday: The butterflies, the heat of the lights, and the sound of the crowd mulling about the theatre finding their seats. Nothing was more exciting than the few minutes I had to myself backstage before a performance. I would stretch and warm up, I would visualize my piece in my head, and I would pray. I felt alive.

I’ve told you about my history as a dancer. It was my first love and the hardest thing I’ve ever had to give up. I began dancing when I was two, and yes, you guessed it, that photo is one of my first dance classes (I’ve come a long way since then). I continued training through high school and college, and had the honor of dancing with some of the most inspiring and talented choreographers and performers I’ve ever seen. For the vast majority of my life, dancing was at the center of it.

As I grow, the role that dancing plays continues to change. Unfortunately, for the last year though, it’s not played much of a role at all. You know the story: I have work, I have plans, I have commitments – life, somehow, always manages to get in the way.

Recently though, I was presented with an opportunity. The company for which I danced and choreographed in college decided to host an Alumni Benefit Concert and sought out former company members to choreograph and perform. After some soul-searching and flip-flopping, I finally bit the bullet, submitted my application, and began choreographing.

Since then, I’ve been rehearsing with a dear friend of mine, and the two of us are set to perform a duet this Saturday. The piece is beautiful – it’s a contemporary number set to two songs from the Across the Universe Soundtrack: “Black Bird” performed by Evan Rachel Wood and “Let it Be” performed by Carol Woods and Timothy Mitchum.

I would be lying if I didn’t say, I’m nervous. I’ll be the only performer who is not currently pursuing a career in dance in some capacity, I haven’t danced in over a year, and the ManBoy will be seeing me perform for the first time – A high-pressure situation to say the least.

As I prepare for this weekend, that rush of anxiety has come flooding back. It’s different now, and yet comfortingly familiar. The prayers have doubled in number (along with the salads I’m eating) and the excitement is beginning to creep in…wish me luck.

FALL-ing in Love with New York City

I know…it’s been ages. My sincerest apologies; especially to those of you who have reached out in the last few days to express their concern. Though it is certainly no excuse to ignore my faithful readers, work, post-Labor Day, has been incredibly busy. So busy in fact, this past weekend was the first time I had the opportunity to realize that while I’ve been chained to my desk, somehow we’ve arrived back at my favorite time of year in my favorite city – Autumn in New York.

While some are lamenting the coming to an end of weekend beach getaways, flip flops, and sundresses, I am neatly arranging my knee-high suede boots, turtleneck sweaters, and pashmina scarves. I’ve stocked up on apple cider, shut off the AC, and taken time to bask in the beauty that is this season.

Since childhood, it’s been my favorite. The first days of school, new clothes, my half birthday, and the feeling that this year, who knows what could happen?!?! Perhaps it is my 20-something, recently-graduated self that constantly harkens back to my days as a student, and regards September as the start of a new year…But, I’ll admit, I hope that never changes.

In the weeks during which I’ve taken a hiatus from this blog, I’ve had an opportunity to look back and reflect on how vastly different my life is from exactly this time a year ago. I've also pointed my vision forward and have looked anxiously and excitedly to the future...

I’ve fallen in love with a man who is so much more than I could have ever dreamed of. I’ve moved back to New York into an entirely different neighborhood than that which I once knew. I’ve said goodbye to dear friends, made new ones, and reconnected with old. I’ve traveled. I’ve learned. And, I’ve grown.

So, here we are. September has flown by, and we are entering into what has recently become my new favorite month, October.

The sweaters and Uggs have emerged from the back of my closet, and the ManBoy and I are planning an apple-picking trip Upstate. {Note: The ManBoy is, unfortunately, allergic to raw apples, so you can bet we’ll be baking the “fruits of our labors” (pun intended) into some scrumptious desserts, that will undoubtedly be devoured by his roommates}.

We will celebrate our 1 Year Anniversary on the 9th, and I’ll be returning to my roots on the 10th, as I dance in an alumni show at my Alma Mater.

It is without question though, as October rolls on and the colors around us turn more vibrant, visions of the Holiday Season will be begin to creep in…

My advice: Find the someone that you love; curl up on the couch or in the park with a fluffy blanket and some cider, and take in the world around you. Whether you are a person of faith, or not, it is my belief that you simply cannot ignore the beauty that this time of year has to offer. Thank God for it. Thank Him for the people around you with whom you are sharing it… And maybe, just maybe, the streets of this mean city, even the subways of New York, will seem just a little friendlier…


Before I bid you farewell (for what I promise will only be a short time), I will leave you with this – a quote from my favorite movie to watch this time of year, You’ve Got Mail…

"Don't you love New York in the fall? It makes me wanna buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address."

Post-Vacay and a Labor Day Getaway

Hello! And welcome back to the world of Shoes and Baby Blues! It’s September (one of my favorite months) and I’ve just returned from Ireland (sad face).

The trip was incredible! Ireland is a beautiful country with a unique and touching story. Dublin is a city full of history and fun, and we experienced it all (and then some).

It was fantastic to meet the ManBoy’s friends from his time in Ireland and witness the city through his eyes and his stories. He showed me where he lived and bought me a pint at his favorite pub. He taught me about the Easter Rising of 1916 and the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921. I learned about Michael Collins, and Eamon De Valera, and all of the historical figures who fought hard for a free and independent Ireland. We visited Glasnevin Cemetery and saw the bullet holes in the walls of the GPO.

Not to worry, it wasn’t all educational. We certainly indulged in our fair share of the local culture. The Irish are a fun people and they put us to the test. (In all honesty, I’m not sure how well we kept up, but we certainly did our best).

The festival in Dun Laoghaire (pronounced Dun Leary) was amazing as well – food, crafts, workshops, and performances from around the world. They even threw a party in the bar of our hotel that raged well into the night! SO. MUCH. FUN. (I managed to get the ManBoy dancing at one point, though I’m strictly forbidden to disseminate any incriminating materials proving such an event took place i.e. videos and photos)

All in all, it was truly a marvelous trip – we took plenty of photos and made plenty of memories. Nothing like taking a mini-holiday to Europe with the man you love!

Though the return home was bittersweet, there is more fun to be had this weekend for Labor Day. (Gotta love three short work weeks in a row!)

The ManBoy and I will be road tripping to New Hampshire with some of his old high school buddies. Minus the 5 hour drive, it should be a great time!

Enjoy the long weekend and we’ll talk soon! ;-)

In the meantime…a few photos for your enjoyment...

An Irish StapleThe ManBoy's Old Stomping Grounds

Dun Laoghaire Harbor

On The Dun Laoghaire Pier

The Festival

Estimated Departure Time: 7:30pm

Finally…our long awaited trip to Ireland is upon us! We depart this evening for Dublin, Ireland at 7:30pm.

To catch you up, a few months ago, for the ManBoy’s birthday, I purchased a vacation package for us to spend 5 days in Dublin. The ManBoy, having a love for all things Irish, could not have been more excited.

I must note here that the initial plan was to keep the destination of the trip a secret until our arrival at the airport this evening. But, if I’m being honest, I just can’t keep a secret like that... Thus, much to the chagrin of my fellow schemers, the ManBoy is well aware that we’ll be spending the next few days knee deep in stout! Be jealous.

Despite the forecast predicting a quintessentially Irish rainy 5 days, I cannot begin to describe how excited I am! Last night, true to form, I was up to the wee hours of the night, packing and planning my outfits, unpacking and repacking, weighing my bag, and checking off my alarmingly detailed To-Do-List. I’m pretty sure I’ve got everything now…and then some. I’m also fairly certain I’ve asked the ManBoy if he remembered his passport about 35 times. I’m an overzealous obsessive compulsive planner, what do you want from me?

Thus far, we have a few fun activities planned. Having studied abroad at Trinity College, the ManBoy has a few friends who live in Dublin, so of course we’ll be spending time catching up with them. We are planning on renting a car to drive to the Giants Causeway on Friday, and will take part in the Festival of World Cultures on Saturday and Sunday in Dun Laoghaire, near our hotel.

I will report back with stories and photos and promise to indulge in my fair share of Guinness! (Confession: I’m actually not a huge fan of Guinness, but I am painfully aware of the unending mockery that is bound to ensue should I return home having not consumed a pint or two).

All in all, I’m looking forward to a few days away with the ManBoy. It will be a unique opportunity for him to share with me a place that means so much to him and I cannot wait to see it through his Irish eyes.

Wish us well! Slán agaibh!

Needed To Share...

I had to share this...a co-worker sent it to me and it had me in tears laughing for a good 15 minutes...enjoy!

Random Thoughts of the Day:

· I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.

· More often than not, when someone is telling me a story all I can think about is that I can’t wait for them to finish so that I can tell my own story that’s not only better, but also more directly involves me.

· Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

· I don't understand the purpose of the line, "I don't need to drink to have fun." Great, no one does. But why start a fire with flint and sticks when they've invented the lighter?

· Have you ever been walking down the street and realized that you're going in the complete opposite direction of where you are supposed to be going? But instead of just turning a 180 and walking back in the direction from which you came, you have to first do something like check your watch or phone or make a grand arm gesture and mutter to yourself to ensure that no one in the surrounding area thinks you're crazy by randomly switching directions on the sidewalk.

· That's enough, Nickelback.

· I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.

· The letters T and G are very close to each other on a keyboard. This recently became all too apparent to me and consequently I will never be ending a work email with the phrase "Regards" again.

· Do you remember when you were a kid, playing Nintendo and it wouldn't work? You take the cartridge out, blow in it and that would magically fix the problem. Every kid in America did that, but how did we all know how to fix the problem? There were no Internet or message boards or FAQ's. We just figured it out. Today's kids are soft.

· There is a great need for sarcasm font.

· Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the fuck was going on when I first saw it.

· I think everyone has a movie that they love so much, it actually becomes stressful to watch it with other people. I'll end up wasting 90 minutes shiftily glancing around to confirm that everyone's laughing at the right parts, then making sure I laugh just a little bit harder (and a millisecond earlier) to prove that I'm still the only one who really, really gets it.

· The other night I hit a new low at an open bar. I had already hopped on highway blackout when, inevitably I had to find a bathroom. Eventually I decided it was probably on the other side of the bar so I tried to walk over there, but ran into a guy coming the other way. We played that, Both go left, Both go right game to no avail, so I finally put out my hand to guide myself past and that is when I realized, yup, that’s a mirror I just tried to walk through. And the guy on the other side is me. Even cats can recognize their own image.

· How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

· I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.

· I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

· The only time I look forward to a red light is when I’m trying to finish a text.

· A recent study has shown that playing beer pong contributes to the spread of mono and the flu. Yeah, if you suck at it.

· Was learning cursive really necessary?

· Lol has gone from meaning, "laugh out loud" to "I have nothing else to say".

· I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.(Side note: This is the story of my life)

· Answering the same letter three times or more in a row on a Scantron test is absolutely petrifying.

· My brother's Municipal League baseball team is named the Stepdads. Seeing as none of the guys on the team are actual stepdads, I inquired about the name. He explained, "Cuz we beat you, and you hate us." Classy, bro.

· Whenever someone says "I'm not book smart, but I'm street smart", all I hear is "I'm not real smart, but I'm imaginary smart".

· How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear what they said?

· I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars teams up to prevent a dick from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers!

· Every time I have to spell a word over the phone using 'as in' examples, I will undoubtedly draw a blank and sound like a complete idiot. Today I had to spell my boss's last name to an attorney and said "Yes that's G as in...(10 second lapse)… ummm...Goonies"

· What would happen if I hired two private investigators to follow each other?

· While driving yesterday I saw a banana peel in the road and instinctively swerved to avoid it...thanks Mario Kart.

· MapQuest really needs to start their directions on #5. Pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

· Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

· I find it hard to believe there are actually people who get in the shower first and THEN turn on the water.

· Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.

· I would like to officially coin the phrase 'catching the swine flu' to be used as a way to make fun of a friend for hooking up with an overweight woman. Example: "Dave caught the swine flu last night."

· I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

· Bad decisions make good stories

· Whenever I'm Facebook stalking someone and I find out that their profile is public I feel like a kid on Christmas morning who just got the Red Ryder BB gun that I always wanted. 546 pictures? Don't mind if I do!

· Is it just me or do high school girls get sluttier & sluttier every year?

· If Carmen San Diego and Waldo ever got together, their offspring would probably just be completely invisible.

· Why is it that during an ice-breaker, when the whole room has to go around and say their name and where they are from, I get so incredibly nervous? Like I know my name, I know where I'm from, this shouldn't be a problem....

· You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you've made up your mind that you just aren’t doing anything productive for the rest of the day.

· Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after DVDs? I don't want to have to restart my collection.

· There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.

· I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.

· "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this ever.

· I hate being the one with the remote in a room full of people watching TV. There's so much pressure. 'I love this show, but will they judge me if I keep it on? I bet everyone is wishing we weren’t watching this. It's only a matter of time before they all get up and leave the room. Will we still be friends after this?'

· While watching the Olympics, I find myself cheering equally for China and USA. No, I am not of Chinese descent, but I am fairly certain that when Chinese athletes don’t win, they are executed.

· I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Damnit!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What'd you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?

· I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.

· When I meet a new girl, I'm terrified of mentioning something she hasn't already told me but that I have learned from some light internet stalking.

· I like all of the music in my iTunes, except when it's on shuffle, then I like about one in every fifteen songs in my iTunes.

· Why is a school zone 20 mph? That seems like the optimal cruising speed for pedophiles...

· As a driver I hate pedestrians, and as a pedestrian I hate drivers, but no matter what the mode of transportation, I always hate cyclists.

· Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

· It should probably be called Unplanned Parenthood.

· I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

· I think that if, years down the road when I’m trying to have a kid, I find out that I’m sterile, most of my disappointment will stem from the fact that I was not aware of my condition in college.

· Even if I knew your social security number, I wouldn't know what do to with it.

· Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, hitting the G-spot, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I’d bet my ass everyone can find and push the Snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time every time...

· My 4-year old son asked me in the car the other day "Dad what would happen if you ran over a ninja?" How the hell do I respond to that?

· It really pisses me off when I want to read a story on

CNN.com and the link takes me to a video instead of text.

· I wonder if cops ever get pissed off at the fact that everyone they drive behind obeys the speed limit.

· I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

· I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lites than Kay.

· The other night I ordered takeout, and when I looked in the bag, saw they had included four sets of plastic silverware. In other words, someone at the restaurant packed my order, took a second to think about it, and then estimate d that there must be at least four people eating to require such a large amount of food. Too bad I was eating by myself. There’s nothing like being made to feel like a fat bastard before dinner.

Confessions of a 20-Something Drama Queen

It is the end of an era, my friends. The reign of the Bartlet Administration, which, for some, came to a close in May 2006, for me, ended late last night.

The ManBoy and I, as you may know, only days after Christmas, embarked on a journey that turned into an emotional roller coaster. We set out to watch the complete series of The West Wing. That journey is now over.

Over the last 8 months, I have dared to embrace a cast of characters comprising a democratic presidential administration. (For those of you who know me, you know that was a challenge in itself). I have come to know, and dare I say, love these characters. They’ve infiltrated my thoughts and my dreams, distorted reality, and taught me a host of new things about government. I’ve laughed, I’ve cried, and I’ve sat at the edge of my seat in suspense and anticipation.

Perhaps an over dramatization, but I can assure you that I have forged a relationship with the show and its cast members – an unbreakable bond I fear will be replaced by no other.

Last night, the ManBoy and I sat down to watch the final episodes of the series. Upon realizing that we were about to witness the series finale, I began to weep uncontrollably. In fact, “weep” is the understatement of the century. I’m talking sobbing, like car-ran-over-my-dog (who you should vote for here as the cutest puppy) tears streaming down my face. They continued through my second glass of wine into the final episode and lulled me to sleep thereafter.

{If you must know, yes, the ManBoy could not keep himself from laughing at me…hysterically, I might add…but all that changed as the credits began to roll and I saw a tear trickle down his cheek. I kid you not!}

I woke up this morning with an unshakable feeling that a void was now present in my life. A void that Lost, True Blood, Californication, Rescue Me, and even Grey’s cannot fill.

I have entertained the thought of writing a letter to the producers of the show begging that they bring it back – needless to say, it will appear I’ve missed the boat by, ohhhhh call it three years.

So, with a heavy heart and puffy eyes I move on to far less satisfying means of televised entertainment. But, know this, The West Wing will always hold an immovable incomparable place in my life…

Marking a Milestone

This past weekend was one of a kind…yet another reminder of how lucky I am to have the ManBoy in my life, and how truly loved and cherished he is by the people who know him.

We travelled up to his hometown on the North Shore of Boston and spent the weekend with his family. I can say with confidence, the 8 hours of round trip driving and the exhaustion that has since set in were well worth it.

August 13th marked the 5 year anniversary of the ManBoy being diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer. Though I didn’t know him then, my heart breaks at the thought of his struggling to cope with that news at such a young age. He fought hard to win a battle he should never have had to fight and in doing so, has unknowingly inspired others.

Given this auspicious occasion, to which the ManBoy himself would never draw attention, I thought it appropriate to throw an impromptu celebration of his life and his achievements since that day.

His family gathered around him for cake and Prosecco on Saturday and toasted his impressive accomplishments in the 5 years since receiving information that undoubtedly changed him forever.

With his permission, I’d like to share with you my thoughts on the occasion. The following is the text from my card to him:

My Dearest Tim,

You’ll never know the feeling that struck me the day you told me of your battle with cancer. That same feeling comes back every so often and sends me reeling (as you know) and yesterday was one of them.

Please take the time to consider yourself five years ago. You were a kid, not yet glimpsing the idea of becoming a man (or a ManBoy for that matter) and you were faced with an obstacle beyond that which you could have ever imagined. You were a star athlete, a student leader, and preparing to establish a new life at college in New York. The world was at your feet, and I can only imagine how it must have come crashing down in that instant.

To envision a time when that light inside you – the light that draws me closer to you every day, was in jeopardy of being snuffed out, breaks my heart. Sometimes, I wish I could have known you then. I wish I could have held you and taken on any of your fear and pain. I’d like to think I would have been strong enough, and I’m determined to continue to be as we travel down this “forever road” together.

Amidst our busy New York lives, I wanted to take the time this weekend to remember how important a milestone this and every August 13th is and will be. Remember, each year, your accomplishments and the blessings in your life. Stay strong in faith and find comfort in knowing that all the while, God has been looking out for you, guiding you through challenges that have shaped you in ways you may never understand.

You are my answered prayer – a great blessing in my life and the lives of others. Do not, for a moment, try to make light of the importance of this day. And, remember always, how deeply loved and cherished you are by those around you.

With my whole heart, I am faithfully yours,

Jaclyn
A Few Verses to Consider:
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. - Philippians 4:13

Don’t you be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness. - Isaiah 41:10

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. - Proverbs 3:5
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. - Matthew 11:28-30

Soooo Cute...

So I entered my puppy in the Cutest Dog Competition...please vote for her here!!!!

Good Luck Maggie!

Brave Enough to Follow Their Dreams...

Happy Friday All!
I hope your work week flew by and you are as excited for this weekend as I am.

Today, I want to share with you a tribute to four of my closest friends. These girls have seen me through it all; good times and bad, new beginnings and graduations, boyfriends and break ups they’ve been there, at my side.

We couldn’t be more different; in fact, some of them aren’t even really friends with each other. But, when I take the time to consider it, they are four of the most impressive women I know, and four of the bravest.

Last night I realized, these four girls are inspiring – they know exactly what they want, they’ve gone after it, and, they’ve succeeded. How many recent college graduates can actually say that going into their second year as “real people”, they are doing exactly what they wanted to do? Not many – and I know four of them.

One was accepted to graduate school at Oxford University (yes, the one in England). Another is rising rapidly through the ranks of an event planning firm that has her running events and working with power house pharmaceutical corporations all over the country. Still another was recently shipped to LA to run her PR firm’s satellite office – run, as in, she’s in charge. And finally, one is working as a legislative correspondent to a United States Congressman in Washington, DC. {I know, my friends are badasses, I’m well aware}.

I’ve never before felt such overwhelming happiness for someone else (let alone four someone elses). Their jobs have taken them all over the country and the world and about as far away from New York (and me) as you can get (sad face) and still I feel nothing but joy for their successes.

I am blessed to have these women in my life. I know that no matter how far they travel, no matter how high on the ladder they climb, they’ll always be there for me, and share in the same happiness over my successes.

So ladies, please know how proud I am to know you, to call you my best friends. Thank you for having the courage to follow your dreams and congratulations on all that you have already accomplished.

All My Love,

Jaclyn

Lovers' Getaway...Right Here at Home

I know, I know…I’m just asking to be ridiculed by the boys, but I don’t care. So ha! (Crosses arms and storms off…….no?)

Anyway, a long awaited New York City weekend is upon us! We’ve been traveling every weekend and are finally committing to staying put in the Big Apple.

Though summertime, in my book, conjures images of beaches, boats, and bathing suits, I realized I’ve not experienced a summer city weekend…there’s so much to do in this great town of ours, and frankly, I’ve been missing out.

So this weekend the ManBoy and I are making up for lost time. We’ll go to happy hour, sleep in, do brunch, have date night, go to church, take a walk in the park, and hang out at the Boat Basin. I. CANNOT. WAIT.

I must admit, I just can’t get enough of that (man)boy. I see him every day and yet, the hours we spend apart make me miss him more and more by the second. I sit at work and think about how excited I am to see him later. {Ok, vom, I know…but I mean it} I suppose that’s what they meant when they said “that’s how it’s supposed to be”.

The last few weeks seem to have gotten away from us; we’ve cancelled dinner dates, changed plans, and gotten caught up in our work. But, all that melts away when the love of your life says, “baby, I’m taking you to dinner this weekend”. Instant smiles.

So my advice to you this weekend is catch up with that special someone who may be there every day, but whom you feel you haven’t seen in ages…take time to remind them how much you love just spending time with them, no matter what the occasion.

Enjoy the weekend all!


Now…what to wear….

Finally...

Let me just say that it's about damn time! Go Yanks! 0-8 against the Sox was enough...

In case you live in a cave, the New York Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox 13 -6 last night at Yankee Stadium, and yours truly was there to witness the glory!

(As was Bruce Willis...The Officer John McClane of Die Hard fame...be still my heart)

Needless to say, the ManBoy is not pleased...sad face (in other words cry. me. a. river.)

Cut Me Some Slack....Please?

…in other words: The story of my life…every day this week…if my name were Alex.

Forgive this moment of self indulgence but I really just need a minute to vent. In a nutshell, nothing, I repeat, NOTHING has gone right this week.

Last weekend I came down with some freak stomach bug that left me in a bad way from Saturday afternoon on. I’ll spare you the gory details – it wasn’t pretty.

It takes your body some time to recover from that though, and, as a result, I’ve been exhausted and incapable of getting any truly restorative sleep during this hell week.

Monday:
In thinking about the events of the past few days, I need to make one minor adjustment to the aforementioned; not everything went wrong. Monday night was fantastic! The ManBoy and I made an absolutely scrumptious meal of carne asada, corn, and roasted vegetables. I’m telling you, I impressed myself on this one. We watched West Wing and snuggled {I know, gross ;-)} - It was really great!

Tuesday:
Tuesday though, he and I had plans for a long overdue date night. We’re the couple that has made it a commitment of ours to, every so often, set aside a night exclusively for us – date night! Restaurant Week is coming to an end in New York, and it seemed like the perfect opportunity for a romantic night out. We had reservations at Tribeca Grill and I’d spent the better part of the work day mentally rummaging through my closet for the perfect outfit.

Along comes 5:00pm. The ManBoy’s boss drops the bomb that “tonight is gonna be a late one”. Really bossman? Really? Reservations: Cancelled. (Ugh)

Meanwhile, I too got stuck on a project at work that kept me there past the time at which we should have been arriving arm in arm at the restaurant. Instead, I left the office at 8:00, trekked home to the city, ate a lonely dinner of leftovers and pork and veggie gyoza, watched a terrible movie on TV, and did an obscene amount of laundry.

Date. Night. Fail.

Wednesday:
Hump Day! Come on, things have got to go up from here. Of course not. Work put me through the ringer and I’ll leave it at that. {Luckily, I was fortunate enough to enjoy the company of the ManBoy, his sister, and her friend (both of whom just completed the New York Bar Exam – congratulations girls!) over burritos and sufficiently strong frozen margaritas. Needless to say, bed time came far too late and I am, once again, exhausted.}

Thursday:
The hits just keep comin’! Understandably, I was running a little late this morning (what with all those margaritas last night) and I was racing the clock to get to my car before the 8:00am street cleaning rules went into effect. I charged out of my building and low and behold what do I find? Two traffic cops standing at my car…clearly. I start shouting “stop stop stop I’m here!” No dice. {Allegedly, once you start writing the electronic ticket, you can’t stop…hmmm can we look into that please?}

Well, furious with the scenario and watching one of the two officers walk away from the car to fiddle with the ticket machine, my Jersey born and bred attitude kicked in. It was no secret that I was pissed at what was taking place. I continued to insist on the ridiculous nature of the ticket and that I was here at 8:00am on the dot to move my car. Needless to say, it didn’t help {New York is facing a budget deficit and this is their way of settling balances}.I hope those two sleep well at night knowing that ripping off the driving population is at the center of their life’s work. Good for you, fake cop.

Arghhhh!

So, after my futile attempt at fighting the inevitable, I yanked the ticket out of the officer’s hand and sped off. Jerks!

Then the tears came. Poor ManBoy gets a teary 8:07am phone call with me on the other end ranting and raving about a situation completely and utterly beyond his control. What a good guy – Lord knows what makes him stick around {Hey Roommates – Make no mistake, that was not an invitation for you to share your thoughts on the matter}.

Not thirty seconds after driving off, I find myself in the traffic jam of all traffic jams getting onto the FDR. I didn’t reach the highway for another 25 minutes (it should take about 60 seconds total to get from my apartment to the FDR). It can really go without saying, but I was very late for work today. Joy.

Over the course of the day, pieces of news have continued to filter in that have made the day go from bad to worse. My friends, who were planning on coming up from DC to the shore this weekend, had to cancel because they were told they need to work. The plans to spend happy hour with my girlfriends and our significant others this evening have fallen through. And, we’ve received word that my grandfather has become very ill…

Essentially, I just can’t catch a break…help?

Girls Gone....Mild

My little girls are growing up...

Last weekend was Beach Weekend '09 - The Reunion. Every year, five girlfriends who have been close since elementary school get together for a weekend of GCF (good-clean-fun) and, up until recently, boy-bashing (also known as “man-hating”).

As always, this year’s Beach Weekend was a success! But, amidst the quiet reflection that inevitably comes from comparing last year’s Facebook photos to this year’s (and the untagging that ensues), I couldn’t help but notice that something was different. We’d changed, and it wasn’t just a few pounds here or there, a new hair style (or color), or an increasingly developed fashion sense – we, for the first time, (vaguely) resembled adults.

{We also, unlike in years past, were all spoken for by seemingly appropriate male suitors. Good job ladies!}

Rather than taking to the streets (read “bars”) of Belmar, NJ for two nights straight, we opted for a calmer route: Cocktails out back by the dunes and genuinely taking time to catch up, and (get this) L I S T E N to the goings on of our friends’ lives. It was wonderful!

I found myself staring, in disbelief, at a group of young women whom I’d seen go through the ups and downs of life. We’ve laughed with each other, cried with each other, and been at each others’ sides when %#@! has hit the fan. We’ve each had front row seats to the dramas of each others’ lives since before I can remember and here we were, employed, paying bills, and planning our futures, all the while giggling as we always have.

As we made our way up from the Jersey Shore and the reality of the impending Monday morning commute settled in, I was left with an overwhelming feeling. Sleep deprivation aside, I was focused on how rare and special a thing it is that we share: A friendship that has withstood the tests of time, and I reckon, will continue to do so. The five of us could not be more different, and yet, rather than drift apart and succumb to the pressures of life that often tear at childhood friendships, we have stayed strong and connected to one another. We may not speak on a daily basis, but when we do, it’s as if not a moment has passed since last we caught up.

Later that night, as I settled in to recount the weekend's events to the ManBoy, I realized too that I was in a completely different place from just one year ago. Here I was, sitting across from the ManBoy I love, and with whom I am thrilled to be planning a life, speaking about my friends whom I’ve known since preschool. He listened, politely intrigued, as I described what had taken place. He couldn’t have felt more removed or out of context, but I sensed that, as I spoke, (unaware of whether he was listening or tuning me out) he learned things about my past that I hadn’t even thought to share with him.

Many of these girls he’s not yet met, (something that is about to change as the girls have planned a “meet and greet” happy hour with our significant others for next week) but, they have been witnesses to my life long before I even knew he existed. I can say, with absolute certainty, when I look back over my 23 years, that I have been in a state of constant evolution. And, while that transformation, I hope, has not yet come to an end, I am in a content and happy place, the likes of which I’ve never seen in my past. It’s a comfort to know though, regardless of what’s changed, that there are a select few who have been there for the whole ride. They have a unique perspective on my life and constantly remind me of how far I’ve come.

So ladies, I thank you. I love you all for who you were and who you’ve become. I love you for your uniqueness and your understanding. I love you for always being up for cocktails and a good laugh. But, most of all, I love you for your friendship.